Linky Reminder and the Liebster

PLEASE don't forget to link up to my very first linky!!
I know there are soooo many other great linkys going on right now, but show me some love:)
Gracious Amber from School is a Happy Place is so far the only one to do so...and I really feel bad that she's all alone:,(
Thank you, Amber!
If you have a math/word problem product to "push", this would be a super time to post about it!!!
The linky will run until the end of the month, and I want you to link up!


this little boy is so much cuter than Uncle Sam, even though that's what I was really searching for:)
You know, the "I want you" posters??
 

Yeah.
He wants you to link up, too:)

In other news, Sweet Stephanie from Polka Dot Palace nominated my blog for the Liebster Award.
This is my second time receiving this award (though it looks completely different than it did last year!), so I guess I need to include it on my sidebar or something.
I did learn this time, though, that Liebster means "lovely, dearest, cute, and welcome" in German.
Doesn't it seem like every language other than English is wonderfully colorful??
(yet, strangely not as complicated?)

 

There are a few rules in accepting this award and here are mine:

     1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.

     2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers

     3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator

     4. Share 11 random facts about yourself

     5. Create 11 questions for your nominees

     6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

My nominations:
I actually received this award last July, from Cyndi @ Lacy's Letters, so if you want to read about my original nominations, click here.
However, two very good friends are jumping into the teacher-blogger world with me, so I am nominating them for the Liebster, as they are both very Liebster-worthy individuals, and working so hard to make their blogs equally so!
So I'm nominating these two fabulous bloggers/blogs:

      Melissa @ Mrs. B's Bright Blessings
&   Jennifer @ Live, Love, Teach Third Grade

Please go check out these lovely ladies' blogs, and support their efforts of entering the educational blogging world by becoming followers!
They are both FULL of such stellar, creative ideas!!!

Okay, now for the long fun part: Stephanie's questions!

1. What is your favorite childhood memory?

        One of my very favorite childhood memories is traveling to Tennessee for a family reunion.
I was 15, and my dad and I drove my mother and brother crazy quoting "Forrest Gump" for the whole 12-hour trek to Memphis:D We also had a fabulous time with family and seeing the sights, including Graceland and Beale Street. Memories:)

       2.  Tell me about your least favorite teacher in school?
   No disrespect to Stephanie, but I would rather tell you about my FAVORITE teacher than focus on the negative impacts of many least favorite individuals who taught me how NOT to be a teacher:)
My very favorite teacher inspired me to be a teacher, because she genuinely loved what she did; you could just see the passion within her! She believed in me (as I'm sure she did my classmates), but when I was with her, it seemed as if she was investing all she had right into me only;) I have never felt so special, or loved, by another teacher in my life...and she is the personal standard to which I hold myself. I know content is important, but the saying goes:

I will never forget you, Mrs. Chandler! Thank you so much.
It is my honor to carry out your legacy that you instilled in me:)

   3.  What is your dream teaching job?
I'm living it!
Teaching first grade in the school where I student-taught.
Y'all have no idea how I prayed for this job!!
It truly is a wonder to me, even still, how our God works:) He is so good!

4. Would you ever want to be an administrator? Why or why not? If you are an administrator, why did you want to become one?
Hmmmm.....
Well, someone in my district recently told me that I should consider it at some point in my career.
In her opinion, I had "what it takes"...but I really don't see myself that way.
I don't think I delegate well (I usually just take things on myself...even when it's WAAAY more than I can handle), and I do not view myself as a very good leader for my peers or colleagues.
I lead by example, and a good administrator must do so much more than that!

5. What was your first car?
What a random question:)
It was a white, Ford Sundance, which my very cool friends and I dubbed "The Beast" (because that's what it sounded like when you started it)...and I drove it for 3 whole months before totaling it.
I'm awesome like that.

6. What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
My boys and I did a "Double Feature" day yesterday:
We went to a matinee of Despicable Me 2, ate a quick dinner at DQ, then went to a showing of Monsters University.
BOTH movies were a laugh-riot!!
Super day with my two Super "men"...
seriously, loves of my life.

7. If you have kids, how did you come up with their names? Something you liked, family significance, etc. If you don't have kids, what would you want to name them if you ever did?
Funny how her previous question led right into this one, with the answer I gave!
My oldest son's name is Breckin, and his namesake is Breckin Meyer, who I had a serious crush on in high school:)
You know, the goofball "Travis" from Clueless? (if you weren't a 90's kid, then you don't know!)
My youngest son's name is Aiden, and his name actually came from my husband (at the time).
I wanted to name him "Jacob", but Daddy didn't like that as well as Carrie's love interest from Sex & the City...yes, both of my boys get their names from Hollywood.
Where did we go wrong???:)

8. Tell me about one of those lessons that just went wrong, it didn't work.
I am not a perfect teacher, by any means, but I honestly can't think of one right off the top of my head.
However, I am constantly reflecting (even while I'm teaching) and changing things (even while I'm teaching) when I sense kids aren't "getting it"/engaged.
I also (voluntarily, at times!) have a horrible short term memory....
...that's why we all keep coming back each August, right? :)

9. What do you do to relax?
Uh, Blog.
Pin.
Plan for the next day/week/month/year.
I'm sure I'll get a real life, eventually...
one that has nothing to do with school (maybe).

10. What was your most memorable vacation?
Going to Disney World for my boys' birthdays/my graduation/getting a job celebration/my parents' anniversary in May, 2011.
My mom's brother's family came, too, so there was 11 of us partying Disney-style for a week in Florida.
It was the best!

11. Are you a Coke or Pepsi person?
Neither.

I wish I was a "w-w-w-water girl", but sadly I have a slight addiction.
If there was room on the sign, it would also say "& coffee---preferably from Starbucks"

Okay.

That wraps it up for me!
I know I'm supposed to give 11 random facts about myself, but I'm wiped OUT!
I've had to type this whole post on a PC, people!!!
I am now and forever a Mac girl....
and I don't mean the cosmetics:)

Thanks, so much, Stephanie for thinking of me as deserving of this super award:,)
 Have a STELLAR weekend! (and don't forget to link up!!!)